NEW ORLEANS – Enjoying a busy All-Star weekend, Paul George professed no concern about his declining numbers.

As confident as ever, he insisted skipping Saturday night's dunk contest and resting up for the latter part of the season would not have helped him. What matters most is adapting to the way teams have defended him after his blistering start in the first 20 games.

"It's just another adjustment for me that I'll get through," he said. "When I come off screens now, I'm getting trapped and double teamed and guys are loading up to force me to move the ball. At times I want to be aggressive and take the shots when they're there, but sometimes it's better for me to move the ball and get guys going for myself to get going."

With the Pacers (40-12) still two games clear of the Miami Heat (37-14) in the loss column for the best record in the Eastern Conference, George can afford to be patient as he figures out his next move. Still, hIs offensive drop-off has been dramatic.

After averaging 24.8 points on 47.6 percent shooting while hitting 41.2 percent of his 3-point attempts in the first 20 games — MVP-like numbers — he has averaged 19.1 points, made 39.9 percent of shots and connected on 34.5 percent of his 3-point tries in the last 20 games.

That gap indicates a bigger issue than simply the ebb and flow of a long season.

George scored 20 or more points just twice in the Pacers' 10 games before the All-Star break as they went 6-4, losing half as many times as they had through 42 games. Before that rough offensive stretch, he had scored at least 20 points six consecutive times.

"It's all mental now," he said. "I've just got to learn how to play through it (aggressive defense), learn how to pick and choose my spots on the floor and still find ways to be aggressive and put the team on my back at times when I need to."

Center Roy Hibbert, the other Pacers player in today's All-Star Game, scoffed at the notion of any concern.

"We're winning, and that's all that matters," Hibbert said. "I don't think any other guard or forward is playing at a high level on the offensive end but also defending and keeping the best player on the other team below their average."

That defensive intensity has stayed strong while George's offensive numbers slipped, said Pacers coach Frank Vogel, who also will coach the Eastern Conference All-Stars today. He pointed out opponents are putting their best defenders on George from start to finish, forcing him to alter his approach.

"The great thing about Paul is he's so selfless with the basketball," Vogel said. "He's our most willing passer. All that drives Paul George is the Indiana Pacers winning, not his individual success. As good as he has become on the offensive end, he does things defensively you can't teach and has an ability that not many that have ever played this game have."

In New Orleans, though, George just wants to have fun. He happily answered every question in the mandatory media session on Friday afternoon, including some offbeat ones.

For those curious, he is not sure he favors a 4-point line from 35 feet (yes, that was asked). He thinks the Orlando Magic mascot should be the next mascot to have surgery to alter his look ("I don't see any magic in it,") following the New Orleans Pelicans mascot's lead. He would name his own Smoothie King (the recently named title sponsor for New Orleans' All-Star Game venue) drink the "360 swirl" because of his haircut and dunking ability.

His choices for a basketball Mount Rushmore — a topic LeBron James introduced — would be Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Shaquille O'Neal.

George was just as comfortable when the topic returned to All-Star weekend. After flying solo in his first All-Star appearance last season, he loves having some Pacers' company this time.

"I'm still wide-eyed, it just being my second one," he said. "There's still a lot of stuff that's new to me. It's a real loose and fun environment here. I'm just happy to share it with coach Vogel and Roy."

Ultimately, though, his mind is focused on one thing — getting past the Heat in the playoffs and winning a championship.

"We know it's not going to be easy, but we like our chances playing a seven-game series with home-court (advantage)," he said. "That's the only team goal that we have — remain No. 1 in the East and lock down the first seed. We have our expectations high on winning it all this year."